‘South Pacific’ takes stage next month

Published 12:10 am Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Julianna Berger, as Ensign Nellie Forbush, and Mitchell Tarashvili, as Emile de Becque, are part of the acting team bringing ‘South Pacific’ to life next month/.

DESTREHAN — The River Region Drama Guild is presenting “South Pacific.”

Show times are 7:30 p.m. June 8–10 and 2 p.m. June 11 at Destrehan Auditorium, 1 Wildcat Lane in Destrehan.

Tickets are $15 before June 5 and $20 at the door, cash or check only.

Advance sale tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com.

Rogers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific is presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals.

Music is by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.

The play was adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel “Tales of the South Pacific” by James A. Michener.

The musical is set on a tropical island during World War II and highlights the tumultuous love story between a French plantation owner, Emile de Becque, played by Mitchell Tarashvili, and a small town American nurse, Ensign Nellie Forbush, played by Julianna Berger.

Another notable character is the comical local, Bloody Mary, played by Ericker Jackson, whose wit and charm will undoubtedly win over audience members.

Steven Fontenot as Stewpot and Bob Oster Jr. as Luther Billis are other humorous additions to the show, providing well timed relief during tense scenes led by Darby Berthelot as Captain Brackett, and Paul Sullivan as Commander William Harbison.

As the show progresses, the love story of local girl Liat, as played by A’layjah Alexander, and her ill-fated beau Lieutenant Joseph Cable, Justin Abate, draw audiences in with their magical charm and youth.